Franklin 10, Needham 5: Post 75 keeps pace in division race

The Franklin American Legion team took care of the business at hand on Monday night. Post 75 is in the thick of the West Division race in Zone 6, and in Needham was visiting one of the teams near the bottom of the division. But despite the discrepancy in the standings, Franklin found itself deadlocked with Post 14 heading to the sixth inning.

The Franklin American Legion team took care of the business at hand on Monday night.

Post 75 is in the thick of the West Division race in Zone 6, and in Needham was visiting one of the teams near the bottom of the division. But despite the discrepancy in the standings, Franklin found itself deadlocked with Post 14 heading to the sixth inning.

That’s when Post 75 scored twice on its way to a 10-5 win.

Franklin is now riding a four-game winning streak and stands at 10-3 on the season, trailing just Walpole in the West Division.

"I think we’re a blue collar group," said Steven Gilbert. "We grind in out every game, we think we can beat any team. On paper we’re not a biggest team, but we’ll compete hard every game, every inning."

It was Gilbert’s hit in the sixth inning that broke the tie.

With the bases loaded and no outs, Gilbert singled up the middle to drive in Drew Inglesi.

On the same play, Needham center fielder Ryan Rizzo’s throw was cut off by pitcher John Ryan, whose subsequent throw to the plate sailed by catcher Justin Lee. Anthony Chaiton scored on the error to increase Franklin’s lead to 7-5.

"I wasn’t going to swing at any junk no matter what part of the count except for two strikes," Gilbert said of his approach against Ryan in the sixth. "The first fastball I saw I was jumping on, so luckily I got it right down the middle."

Franklin – which pounded out 15 hits – used small ball to score three runs in the seventh off reliever Dominic Carlozzi.

Brad Rebello led off with a single, and with Evan Abbott at the plate was running on the pitch and raced all the way to third base when Abbott laid down a bunt single. Rebello then scored on a bunt single by Inglesi to put Franklin up by three runs.

Abbott later scored on a fielder’s choice and Gilbert knocked in Inglesi with a single to left, giving Franklin a 10-5 cushion.

Chaiton pitched two innings of scoreless relief to get the save.

"Anthony has been a starter and a reliever for us," Franklin manager Ryan Jette said. "He just attacks the hitters, and that’s what he did tonight. He uses his defense well and kept us in the game until we could put some more runs on the board."

Franklin scored four runs in the first off Needham starter Danny Higgins.

Gilbert singled, Flateau reached on an error, and Brendan Skidmore knocked in Gilbert with a double to left. Flateau advanced to third on Skidmore’s hit and came home on a throwing error.

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Riley Young’s RBI triple scored Skidmore, and Abbott’s bloop single plated Young for the fourth run of the inning.

Needham answered with two runs in the bottom of the first off Franklin starter Kevin Dolan (5 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 2 BB).

One run scored on Mark Cunningham’s triple, and the second came on a fielder’s choice.

Young tripled for the second time in as many innings in the second, driving in Flateau to put Post 75 ahead 5-2.

Post 14 eventually evened the score with three runs in the fifth, ending Dolan’s night.

"Only the second start for Kevin," Jette said. "He throws well, he battles, he’s a grinder out there. He doesn’t give into the hitters. He just has to work his counts better."

Despite the 10-5 score – the second time Franklin has beaten Needham this season – and the six-win difference in their records, Needham manager John Gallello was faint with his praise of Post 75 after his team fell to 4-11.

"They’re not a bad club," he said, "but they’re no power club."

Franklin will look to win its fifth straight when it takes on Westwood Tuesday evening.